Imageshttp://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/350x300q90/922/qObw3I.jpg http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/150x100q90/923/2jimL2.jpg

 

http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/150x100q90/924/0E6VZm.jpg http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/150x100q90/922/XZiidZ.jpg

 

http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/150x100q90/924/2XJGmg.jpg

Advert

DetailsReleased: 25th March 2002

Origin: United Kingdom

Label: Virgin / EMI / Universal

Format: Double CD, Double Cassette

Duration: 2:36:07 (156 minutes 7 seconds)

Tracks: 43

#1’s: 5

Chart Peak: #1 (2 weeks)

Sales: 645,000 (3x Platinum)

Tracklisting1. Enrique Iglesias – Hero 4:12 {1}

2. Blue – Fly By II 3:50 {6}

3. Ali G feat. Shaggy – Me Julie 3:47 {2}

4. Daniel Bedingfield – Gotta Get Thru This 2:42 {1}

5. Aaliyah – More Than A Woman 3:09 {1}

6. Robbie Williams & Nicole Kidman – Somethin' Stupid 2:50 {1}

7. R. Kelly – The World's Greatest 3:50 {4}

8. S Club 7 – Have You Ever 3:22 {1}

9. Britney Spears – Overprotected 3:18 {4}

10. Sophie Ellis-Bextor – Murder On The Dancefloor 3:49 {2}

11. Kylie Minogue – In Your Eyes 3:17 {3}

12. DB Boulevard – Point Of View 3:29 {3}

13. Lasgo – Something 3:37 {4}

14. PPK – ResuRection 3:13 {3}

15. DJ Aligator Project – The Whistle Song (Blow My Whistle Baby) 3:14 {5}

16. Flip & Fill feat. Kelly Llorenna – True Love Never Dies 3:27 {7}

17. Hear'Say – Everybody 3:54 {4}

18. Allstars – The Land Of Make Believe 3:20 {9}

19. Victoria Beckham – A Mind Of Its Own 3:49 {6}

20. Steps – Words Are Not Enough 3:24 {5}

21. Geri Halliwell – Calling 3:56 {7}

22. Rik Waller – I Will Always Love You 3:37 {6}

23. Stereophonics – Handbags & Gladrags 4:46 {4}

24. Nickelback – How You Remind Me 3:44 {4}

25. Alien Ant Farm – Movies 3:16 {5}

26. Sum 41 – In Too Deep 3:27 {13}

27. Puretone – Addicted To Bass 3:54 {2}

28. Christina Milian – AM To PM 3:52 {3}

29. Ja Rule feat. Ashanti – Always On Time 4:00 {6}

30. City High feat. Eve – Caramel 3:30 {9}

31. Beverley Knight – Shoulda Woulda Coulda 3:33 {10}

32. Samantha Mumba – Lately 3:54 {6}

33. Backstreet Boys – Drowning 4:29 {4}

34. Mary J. Blige – Dance For Me 3:25 {13}

35. Afroman – Crazy Rap 3:11 {10}

36. Princess Superstar feat. High & Mighty – Bad Babysitter 3:33 {11}

37. Platinum 45's feat. More Fire Crew – Oi! 4:32 {8}

38. Goldtrix pts. Andrea Brown – It's Love (Trippin') 3:33 {6}

39. X-Press 2 feat. David Byrne – Lazy 4:12 {2}

40. Jakatta – So Lonely 3:32 {8}

41. The Chemical Brothers – Star Guitar 3:56 {8}

42. Lange feat. Skye – Drifting Away 3:26 {9}

43. Dreamcatcher – I Don't Wanna Lose My Way 3:16 {14}

 

Key

Tracks highlighted red were official UK #1’s.

Tracks with an asterisk (*) next to their title have also been included in special releases from the series.

The track duration has been highlighted cyan.

Bracketed numbers refer to highest chart position reached.

Miscellaneous FactsTrack Most Weeks At #1: Enrique Iglesias – Hero (4 weeks)

Lowest Charting Track: Dreamcatcher – I Don't Wanna Lose My Way {14}

Longest Song: Stereophonics – Handbags & Gladrags 4:46

Shortest Song: Daniel Bedingfield – Gotta Get Thru This 2:42

Edited Tracks: Unknown

Unedited Tracks: Unknown

Inlay Mistakes: None

Other Facts: None

On This Day In HistoryBono from U2 made an appearance at the air rage trial of R.E.M. guitarist Peter Buck, telling the court 'I came to court because Peter is actually famously known for being a peaceable person. I once had to twist his arm to get him to a boxing match.' Buck was later cleared of all charges. He had been accused of attacking two cabin staff and covering them in yoghurt, knocking over a trolley and trying to steal a knife.

The seven-year mystery of missing Manic Street Preachers guitarist Richey Edwards took a grisly twist when human feet were found near where he vanished in 1995.

Other ResourcesOfficial Now Music Website

Wikipedia

Everyhit

Brandt Animation Archive

Now 51 Rate

Andrew's ReviewNow That's What I Call Music! 51 otherwise known as Now 51 was the spring release of 2002. It was released with 43 tracks and 5 UK #1 singles. This was the first volume in the series to include artists like Daniel Bedingfield, Lasgo, Flip & Fill, Nickelback, Christina Milian, Ja Rule and Princess Superstar.

 

With just 5 #1's featured on this occasion, a further 3 could have also been included. This included former Beatle George Harrison with My Sweet Lord, which was in fact it's second time at #1 following the same result in 1971. Westlife, who featured on the previous volume, were snubbed this time with #1 World Of Our Own and lastly, perhaps most controversially, was the absence of the first ever Pop Idol winner Will Young with his double A side debut single Anything Is Possible / Evergreen. There were also omissions for P!nk, No Doubt, Destiny's Child, U2, Five, Mis-Teeq and DJ Otzi, just to name a few.

 

Some of the artists whose only series appearance was on this volume included Ali G, DB Boulevard, PPK, DJ Aligator, Rik Waller, Puretone, Platinum 45's, Goldtrix, X-Press 2, Lange and Dreamcatcher.

 

Artwork Rating: 7/10 Very Good

The artwork resembles a studio not too dissimilar to the kind seen on talent show Pop Idol which had just completed its debut series at that time. I love the shininess of the design and how clean it looks. Plus it's a nice shade of red coupled with a warm bronze logo.

 

Disc 1 Favourite: DB Boulevard – Point Of View

Hard to decide for this disc, nothing really stands out as a personal favourite, but this track from DB Boulevard which features vocals from Moony, who also featured on the next volume, is a nice slice of contemporary dance music which is seldom seen today. I like the music video also.

 

Disc 2 Favourite: Puretone – Addicted To Bass

Love this raw, fast paced adrenaline rush that I got from hearing Puretone for the first time. It was possibly the first true drum & bass track that I really got into. Shame that they go down in the history books as one hit wonders, I can imagine liking more of their music at the time.

 

Disc 3 Tracklist:

(A concept of what a third disc might look like if other hits from the era were used)

 

1. Will Young – Evergreen 4:11 {1}

2. Westlife – World Of Our Own 3:28 {1}

3. A1 – Caught In The Middle 3:25 {2}

4. U2 – Walk On 4:26 {5}

5. No Doubt feat. Bounty Killer – Hey Baby 3:26 {2}

6. P!nk – Get The Party Started 3:13 {2}

7. Feeder – Just A Day 3:45 {12}

8. A – Nothing 3:43 {9}

9. Basement Jaxx – Where's Your Head At 3:59 {9}

10. So Solid Crew pts. Mr Shabz feat. MBD & The Reelists – Haters 4:18 {8}

11. Mis-Teeq – B With Me 3:37 {5}

12. Kosheen – Catch 2:38 {15}

13. Ian Van Dahl – Will I 2:37 {5}

14. Riva feat. Dannii Minogue – Who Do You Love Now 3:24 {3}

15. Alcazar – Crying At The Discoteque 3:26 {13}

16. Minimalistix – Close Cover 3:09 {12}

17. DJ Otzi – Do Wah Diddy 3:39 {9}

18. Hermes House Band – Country Roads 3:20 {7}

19. Liberty – Doin' It 3:33 {14}

20. Destiny's Child – Emotion 3:55 {3}

21. Five – Closer To Me 4:30 {4}

22. Steps – I Know Him So Well 4:12 {5}

----------

Total time: 1:19:54

 

Overall Rating: 6/10 Good

Due to the high volume of one hit wonders which are all but forgotten by today's standards, and the many notable omissions, it seems there was a lot of work that could have been done to make this volume a better one. There are some highlights, and it's nice to see such variety within this volume, and the artwork design is very pleasing.

 

Andrew's Best 5 (as of July 2017)

1. Puretone – Addicted To Bass

2. DB Boulevard – Point Of View

3. Flip & Fill feat. Kelly Llorenna – True Love Never Dies

4. Daniel Bedingfield – Gotta Get Thru This

5. Kylie Minogue – In Your Eyes

 

Andrew's Worst 5 (as of July 2017)

1. DJ Aligator – The Whistle Song (Blow My Whistle Baby)

2. Ali G feat. Shaggy – Me Julie

3. Afroman – Crazy Rap

4. Princess Superstar feat. High & Mighty – Bad Babysitter

5. Beverley Knight – Shoulda Woulda Coulda

Disc 1 is way better then Disc 2.

 

Faves from Disc 1 (all the top 5 are potentially best, but Bedingfield wins bacuse of what it reminds me of)

 

1. Gotta Get Thru This

2. ResRrection

3. Murder on the Dancefloor

4. Everybody

5. In Your Eyes (or Fly By II)

 

Disc 2

 

1. Handbags and Gladrags

 

Overall 7/10, mainly due to Disc 1.

Went for True Love Never Dies for Disc 1 (Something was close though) and Drifting Away from Disc 2. Both great euphoric dance tracks.

 

So many other good tracks though, Something, AM to PM, Gotta Get Through This, Resurection, Point Of View, It's Love (Trippin), Murder On The Dancefloor, I Don't Wanna Lose My Way, Addicted To Bass, Lazy, In Too Deep, How You Remind Me, The Whistle Song (Blow My Whistle Baby).

 

7/10 for quality, 8/10 for artwork as the gold and red colouring is warm and nice.

Edited July 24, 20177 yr by Taking The Hiss

As touched on last week, this was the start of Sony and Warner denying the Now compilers access to the big hits of the time to save them for their own 'Hits' range of compilations which were outselling the Nows for most of the year. Hits 52 especially had Will Young's 'Evergreen' and the video as a bonus on Disc 2 - they did the same with Gareth Gates - 'Anyone of Us' on Hits 53 that summer.

 

It made all the difference where the Nows were concerned because they looked all the poorer for it - I mean Rik Waller? Seriously? This for me is the second least worst of the 2002 Nows as it contained a lot of the stronger hits of the year and the best winter 2001 hits that were too late to get onto Now 50. My top 5 from each:

 

CD1

1. Sophie Ellis-Bextor (quite simply a disco pop classic. Even now you can see why this remains her biggest and best single to date)

2. Kylie Minogue (the run of singles off 'Fever' was her most flawless in her whole career. I loved the video for this one as well)

3. DB Boulevard (great dance track this. I always thought this was Sian Evans from Kosheen singing this one. Always reminds me of Sex and the City as well as they used this for the episode when Carrie shoots her book cover)

4. S Club 7 (their last number one, again as I said last week should've been on Now 50, but Jo's vocal was so beautiful on this)

5. Victoria Beckham (I always thought Victoria copped more flack than she deserved for her solo music. This was a great single and she sounded lovely on this one. I liked the video too)

 

CD2

1. Nickelback (about the only good single they released. Such a timeless rock anthem, and also reminds me of Big Brother 3 when they sung it in the garden with tennis rackets)

2. Samantha Mumba (simply stunning cover of the Divine track this. Nice and Christmas-y sounding as well. Another great single from Sam)

3. The Chemical Brothers (I love The Chemical Brothers anyway but this is a brilliant single. I love how the ambience and feel of this one)

4. Sum 41 (along with 'Fat Lip' one of their best singles for me. Was still quite punky and upbeat but it had a good pop sensibility behind it)

5. Puretone (in a year full of below average dance tracks, pure awesomeness from start to end. Drum n bass done properly)

 

Very surprised you forgot Shakira 'Whenever, Wherever' for the disc 3 choices Andrew? That along with Will Young would have been one of my immediate choices. Some other ones from that time that'd have been good shouts:

 

- Alizée - Moi...Lolita

- Natalie Imbruglia - Wrong Impression

- Jamiroquai - Love Foolosophy

- Brandy - What About Us?

- Alanis Morissette - Hands Clean

- Pet Shop Boys - Home and Dry

Edited July 23, 20177 yr by ThePensmith

Basement Jaxx – Where's Your Head At 3:59 {9}

Ian Van Dahl – Will I 2:37 {5}

Riva feat. Dannii Minogue – Who Do You Love Now 3:24 {3}

Alcazar – Crying At The Discoteque 3:26 {13}

Wish these would have been included, all great tunes!

 

You didn't include Matt Darey ft Marcella Woods - Beautiful on a possible 3rd CD. I heard that one when I was younger while skating in an ice rink, and quite liked it, even though I thought the vocal was a bit unusual back then. Really like it and its vocal now though.

 

in a year full of below average dance tracks

 

:o I think 2002 was one of the best years ever for UK chart dance I think! I am guessing vocal trance is not your thing then Pensmith :lol: !

Edited July 23, 20177 yr by Hisspot

I am guessing vocal trance is not your thing then Pensmith :lol: !

 

You would be correct :D I was never a fan of that or Northern house. There are some great dance tracks on here that I like though like the X-Press 2/David Byrne and Chemical Brothers tracks. 2002 was the start also (although not on this volume) of the likes of Richard X breaking through who I was obsessed with.

You would be correct :D I was never a fan of that or Northern house. There are some great dance tracks on here that I like though like the X-Press 2/David Byrne and Chemical Brothers tracks. 2002 was the start also (although not on this volume) of the likes of Richard X breaking through who I was obsessed with.

 

What is Northern house if I may ask? :unsure:

What is Northern house if I may ask? :unsure:

 

The predominantly internet used term c. 2002-5 for dance records that found an audience/sales predominantly in the North of England. Best example being Ultrabeat's 'Pretty Green Eyes'...

Disc 1 faves:

1. Aaliyah - More Than a Woman :wub:

2. Britney Spears - Overprotected

3. R. Kelly - The World's Greatest

4. Kylie Minogue - In Your Eyes

 

Disc 2 faves:

1. Ja Rule feat. Ashanti - Always On Time

2. Christina Milian - AM To PM

3. Mary J. Blige - Dance For Me

Very surprised you forgot Shakira 'Whenever, Wherever' for the disc 3 choices Andrew? That along with Will Young would have been one of my immediate choices. Some other ones from that time that'd have been good shouts:

 

- Alizée - Moi...Lolita

- Natalie Imbruglia - Wrong Impression

- Jamiroquai - Love Foolosophy

- Brandy - What About Us?

- Alanis Morissette - Hands Clean

- Pet Shop Boys - Home and Dry

Hi Alex,

 

I originally DID include Shakira in my Disc 3 tracklist, but it never really took off until late Spring that year, so I'm saving it for Disc 3 of Now 52. ;)

 

Here's a couple more I considered featuring on this third disc but didn't;

 

Gordon Haskell – How Wonderful You Are {2}

George Harrison – My Sweet Lord {1}

So Solid Crew – They Don't Know {3}

Celine Dion – A New Day Has Come {7}

 

You didn't include Matt Darey ft Marcella Woods - Beautiful on a possible 3rd CD. I heard that one when I was younger while skating in an ice rink, and quite liked it, even though I thought the vocal was a bit unusual back then. Really like it and its vocal now though.

This too was a hit AFTER Now 51 was released, so I'll be saving it for the next volume. :P

Edited July 23, 20177 yr by awardinary

Hi Alex,

 

I originally DID include Shakira in my Disc 3 tracklist, but it never really took off until late Spring that year, so I'm saving it for Disc 3 of Now 52. ;)

 

Here's a couple more I considered featuring on this third disc but didn't;

 

Gordon Haskell – How Wonderful You Are {2}

George Harrison – My Sweet Lord {1}

So Solid Crew – They Don't Know {3}

Celine Dion – A New Day Has Come {7}

 

Ah fair dos. I do recall now you mention it that it actually outstayed both the Will and Gareth singles in the top 10! Same with the Nickelback track. Shame it was never a number one.

Spotify playlist

 

Disc One: PPK - ResuRection :wub: - Classic trance anthem. Also love Point of View, Gotta Get Thru This, Murder on the Dancefloor and Something.

Disc Two: Puretone - Addicted To Bass - I'll also give a mention to Lazy, It's Love (Trippin') and Drifting Away.

 

Overall top 5:

1. PPK - ResuRection

2. Puretone - Addicted To Bass

3. Lasgo - Something

4. Sophie Ellis-Bextor - Murder on the Dancefloor

5. DB Boulevard - Point Of View

The predominantly internet used term c. 2002-5 for dance records that found an audience/sales predominantly in the North of England. Best example being Ultrabeat's 'Pretty Green Eyes'...

 

Bit of a misleading term as Pretty Green Eyes isn't house though, its eurodance/trance! I assume most of the Northern house songs were of the hard dance variety and also that the DJ Aligator track on this album was considered Northern house too. Btw that DJ Aligator Project track is kind of style wise like a faster 'Loca People' of its time!

 

Disc One: PPK - ResuRection - Classic trance anthem. Also love Point of View, Gotta Get Thru This, Murder on the Dancefloor and Something.

 

You don't love True Love Never Dies :o Thought you would!

 

Edited July 24, 20177 yr by Taking The Hiss

Bit of a misleading term as Pretty Green Eyes isn't house though, its eurodance/trance! I assume most of the Northern house songs were of the hard dance variety and also that the DJ Aligator track on this album was considered Northern house too. Btw that DJ Aligator Project track is kind of style wise like a faster 'Loca People' of its time!

 

I heard tell - I don't know if it's true - that apparently months before it came out, a HMV staff member in Liverpool was held at knifepoint by an aggrieved clubber/customer because they weren't yet selling 'Pretty Green Eyes'. Little wonder then it got to the chart position it ended up at when finally released (I realize we should be saving talk of this for Now 56, but I felt it an interesting point to raise that pertained to our discussion!)

Artwork: 7/10

Disc 1 Fave - Daniel Bedingfield - Gotta Get Thru This :heart:

Disc 2 Fave - Sum 41 - In Too Deep :heart:

Overall - 7/10

The plug.dj session for this was fun today, it reminded me about the existence of Rik Waller :') and also how great the cluster of dance tracks towards the end of Disc 2 are. My Disc 1 favourite this time is Aaliyah - 'More Than A Woman' :wub: that is an all-time favourite, Aaliyah seemingly had so much potential with her winning formula of smooth vocals and accompanying Timbaland production. Then for disc 2 it was Puretone - 'Addicted To Bass' *.* The chorus is just thrilling.

 

My own entry (Lasgo - 'Something') and 18 points (Puretone - 'Addicted To Bass') from the BJSC 00s Dance spinoff both appear on this Now album!

I voted for True Love Never Dies on Disc 1 - one of my all-time favourite songs and a genius interpretation of Airwave - and Addicted To Bass on Disc 2. Overall, for once, Disc 1 is far stronger for me and my other big faves on it include Have You Ever, Murder On The Dancefloor, Point Of View and Something <3

 

Obviously lots of record label politics on show here as Hits 52, which came out within a week of this I think, had the lion's share of the 'missing' songs. I think they probably could have bagged the rights for and should have included Moi Lolita, Just A Day, Where's Your Head At, B With Me, Will I and Close Cover (Do Wah Diddy too but I can see why that was snubbed).

PPK and Chemical Brothers for me, both are amazing dance anthems.

AH OH